Remarks by the Vice President at the Bush-Cheney 2004 Reception
Hilton Akron Fairlawn
Akron, Ohio

6:03 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you very much, Tim. You
know, I had never really thought about that career in the
Supreme Court. (Laughter.) And of course, as Tim pointed out, I'm
not a lawyer. If I was, I probably wouldn't be where I am today.
(Laughter.) I don't mean to offend my lawyer friends. (Laughter.)

But, no, I love to tell the story about my first campaign
for Congress. I was out in the early stages, running in
Wyoming. And we walked into the little town of Dubois, Wyoming. Some
of you know Wyoming. That's clear back up in the mountains.

The -- I didn't know anybody in town. I went down and met the
local precinct committeeman, and he agreed to walk me through town
and sort of introduce me to everybody. And we went into the Ram's Horn
Bar and Grille, which is where everybody gathered for lunch. It's in a
town of maybe 1,000 people.

And we walked in. There were people lined up there at the bar
having a beer with lunch. And one old cowboy over there with his
boot up on the rail, cowboy hat pulled down over his eyes, he looked
over at me when I was introduced to him.

He said, son, are you Democrat? And I said, no sir. He said,
are you a lawyer? I said, no. He said, I'll vote for you.
(Laughter and applause.) And that's all he wanted to know. He didn't
want to know what I was for; he just wanted to know what I
wasn't. (Laughter.) And we carried Dubois, too. (Laughter.)

Anyway, it's great to be here today. I want to thank Tim Timken
for all the great work he's done in helping get organized for this
event. We, of course, carried Ohio in 2000. And with your help,
we're going to carry it once again in 2004. (Applause.)

We're also going to reelect George Voinovich to the United
States Senate -- (applause) -- and some of your great Congressmen,
like Ralph Regula, is an old friend of mine, who's here today.
(Applause.)

This has been an impressive turnout for the number two man on
the ticket. But like I always say, nothing draws a crowd like raw
charisma. (Laughter.)

And we're all here today for exactly the same reason, although
I expect you paid more to get in than I did. (Laughter.) But I'm
grateful to everyone here who worked so hard to help organize the
event. Your yearly -- your early efforts, and your generosity are
laying the foundation for what I think will be a very strong and
effective campaign next year. And I want to thank all of you for your
commitment to the reelection of President George W. Bush. (Applause.)

It's been three years now -- just about three years ago, that
the Governor of Texas asked me to help him find a running mate. I did
my part, set up a search committee -- (laughter) -- and I gave him a
long list of names. And, of course, the selection he made came as a
bit of a surprise to me. At the time that he picked me, he said
he wasn't worried about carrying Wyoming. (Laughter.) He got 70
percent of the vote there. But I like to remind him from time to
time that those three electoral votes came in pretty handy.
(Laughter.)

But the great thing about that decision by then Governor,
now President Bush, was that he brought me back into public life, and
has given me the high privilege of serving as Vice President of the
United States. And I was proud to accept then, and I'm proud to be
beside him now because I know the caliber of the man that I'm
working for. I knew then that if the American people sent us to
Washington, we would not be going there simply to mark time. And we
were determined to solve problems instead of passing them on to
the next generation, determined to seize new opportunities for
reform and to get beyond the old debates that stood in the way of
progress.

Today, as we look ahead to the election of 2004, we already have
a record of accomplishment to show for our efforts. The American
people are confident of a better future, a stronger economy, and
greater security, because -- against the greater security against the
dangers of a new era, because of the character and the leadership
qualities of President Bush.

In the weeks following the terrorist attack on America, people
in every part of the country, regardless of party, took great
comfort and pride in the conduct of our President. From that day to
this, President Bush has led a steady, focused, and relentless campaign
against the enemies who struck America and killed our citizens. The
al Qaeda terrorists and their supporters spent years plotting the
attacks of September 11th. In the time since, they've begun to realize
what a grave miscalculation it was to make an enemy of this country,
and an enemy of this President.

To date, we've captured or killed nearly half the al
Qaeda leadership. Those still at large are living in fear, and their
fears are well founded, because we are on their trail. In
Afghanistan, the Taliban regime brutalized an entire population.
They harbored al Qaeda. That regime is no more. In Iraq, a
dictator armed to threaten the peace and gave support to terrorists.
And that regime is no more.

In the battles of Iraq and Afghanistan, and on the other fronts
in the war on terror, we've depended on the skill and courage of our
men and women in uniform. They've faced enemies who have no regard
for the rules of warfare or morality. They've carried our urgent and
difficult missions in some of the most hostile and remote parts of
the world. They've done all of this with the bravery and the honor we
expect of them. As a former Secretary of Defense, I have never been
more proud of our men and women in uniform. (Applause.)

There was a time just a few years ago, when the military was
taken for granted. Readiness was faltering; morale was beginning to
suffer. In the campaign of 2000, President Bush and I gave our word
that the United States Armed Forces would have the resources they
needed and the respect they deserve. And we've kept our word.

Three years ago, we also promised to reduce the tax burden, to
let workers keep more of their own money, and to give the economy
a needed boost. By the time we took office, the economy was in
recession, and confidence was further shaken by the terrorist
attacks and by corporate scandals. Under the President's leadership,
we passed new laws to prevent and punish corporate crime. And to
help create jobs and get the economy growing again, we have delivered
the largest tax relief packages since the presidency of Ronald Reagan.

As the Governor of Texas, George Bush made education reform a
matter of the highest priority. He followed through by uniting
members of both political parties behind sweeping reforms, and he
promised to do the same as President. Many doubted it could ever
be achieved. Yet in a short time, President Bush transformed the
education debate in Washington. He set forth clear principles, and
worked with Congress in the spirit of good will until the No Child
Left Behind Act became law. Because of that milestone reform, the days
of excuse making are over. We're bringing high standards,
accountability, and regular testing to every public school in America.

Education reform is one of those issues that lingered for years
in Washington. On so many problems, the country was getting used to
endless debate, and not much in the way of progress. Yet things
have changed fundamentally. Instead of constant gridlock, the
government is actually confronting old problems, and acting decisively
against sudden dangers and challenges. And the critical factor, in
every single case, has been the leadership of the President of the
United States.

On the President's initiative, we're carrying out the most
extensive reorganization of the federal government since the
1940s, with the Department of Homeland Security to protect our
nation. And the many failed attempts -- after many failed
attempts in the 1990s, we now have trade promotion authority to open
new markets for American farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers. And
under the President's leadership, Congress agreed to a budget that
funds key priorities, while maintaining spending discipline. And we
are going to hold Congress to that pledge.

On issue after issue, President Bush has led the way in
making progress for the American people. But one of the sure
signs of his leadership can be seen every day in the people that
he's brought to the government. When you can look around the table
and see people like Andy Card, Condoleezza Rice, Don Evans, John
Snow, Don Rumsfeld, and Colin Powell, you know you are working with
serious public servants, and one of the finest teams ever assembled by
a President.

All of us in this administration know that our job is not to rest
on a record, but rather to keep adding to that record.
Abroad, the fundamental interests of the nation require that we
oppose threats to our freedom and security wherever they arise. This
war on terror will continue until every enemy who plots against the
American people is confronted and defeated. (Applause.)

Yet overcoming threats is only the beginning of
America's responsibility toward other nations. There is great work
in this world that only America can do. In the Middle East,
we're encouraging free markets, democracy, and tolerance, because
these are the ideas and aspirations that overcome violence, and
turn societies toward the pursuit of peace.

On the African continent, the President's AIDS initiative will
bring the healing power of medicine to millions of men, women, and
children who now live in desperate need. Under President Bush,
America acts in the world according both to our fundamental
interests and to our founding ideals. We believe in the dignity of
life, and the right of all people to live in freedom. And all who
strive and sacrifice for the cause of freedom will have a friend in the
United States of America.

Here at home, we have a full agenda, as well, and some
pressing business to complete. After many years of inaction, we are
nearing major reform on Medicare. Seven months ago, President Bush
submitted a framework of Medicare reform to the Congress, one that
would give seniors access to prescription drug coverage and offer them
better choices under Medicare.

Last week, both houses of Congress took historic action and
accepted the principle of choice for seniors. Now Congress must
complete its work, and send a bill to the President that not only
strengthens and modernizes Medicare, but provides seniors with better
health care coverage and relief from the rising costs of prescription
drugs.

Our health care system also needs liability reform, because
doctors should spend their time healing patients, not fighting
off frivolous lawsuits. The lawsuit culture is a national
problem that requires a national solution. The House has passed a good
bill. The Senate should do as well.

We're also going to continue to press Congress for an energy
plan. The President has proposed a comprehensive energy strategy
that includes greater energy efficiency and conservation, cleaner
technology, and the production of more natural gas and other fuels
here at home. For the sake of our economic security and our
national security, we must make America less dependent on foreign oil.

Another urgent matter concerns our federal courts, many of which
have empty seats on the bench. The President has nominated superb men
and women to fill these vacancies, selecting people of
experience and proven judgment, who understand the role of the
courts is to interpret the law, not to invent it.

Yet a small group of senators is trying to keep some of
the President's nominees from even receiving an up-or-down vote.
This is a disservice to the courts, and it is unfair to these
well- qualified nominees. The Senate has a responsibility to give
every judicial nominee a prompt hearing, and an up-or-down vote on the
Senate floor.

We have achieved a great deal in these two-and-a-half years.
But there is a great deal left to do in Washington. And across the
world, this nation has many serious responsibilities and
challenges. The campaign season will come in due course. When it
does, we will run hard and take nothing for granted. President Bush
and I know that the key to victory is to do the work we've been given,
and to do it well. We intend to make good use of every day that we
have the honor of serving the American people.

Long before I took this job, I had the good fortune to work
with other presidents that I greatly admire. As a White House
staffer in the aftermath of Watergate, I saw President Ford
restore confidence in government by virtue of his decency and
force of character. As a Congressman during the decisive years of
the Cold War, I saw the conviction and moral courage of Ronald
Reagan. And as a member of the Cabinet under former President Bush,
I saw the ideal of public service in its purest form, and came to
know a leader of honor and complete integrity.

Along the way, I learned a few things about the presidency, and
the kind of person it takes to do that job well. It takes the finest
qualities of character: Conviction, personal integrity, good
judgment, compassion, and courage in times of testing for the
nation. Ladies and gentlemen, that's exactly the kind of man we
have in the White House today. (Applause.)

I'm honored to work with George W. Bush. And he and I are
both honored by your confidence in us, and by your commitment to the
cause that we all share.